Telephone-call tally apparatus



Feb. 22, 1944. E. s. JOHNSON 2,342,348

TELEPHONE-CALL TALLY APPARATUS Filed March 16, 1938 INV EN TOR.

Patented Feb. 22, 1944 UNITE D STATES PATENT OFFICE 2.342.348

TELEPHONE-CALL TALLY APPARATUS Ervin G. Johnson, Eureka, Calif.

Application March 16, 1938, Serial No. 196,195

(01. ill-10.5)

2 Claims.

This invention relates to telephones and more particularly to atelephone call tally.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a low cost andeffective telephone call tally device. Subordinate objects will becomemanifest from a consideration of the following specification in whichreference is made to the drawing for illustration of a preferredembodiment.

In the drawing:

Fig. I is a plan View of a fragment of a telephone with a tally devicemounted thereon;

Fig. II is a sectional view taken at the line IIII of Fig. I; and

Fig. III is an enlarged sectional elevation of the pad and its securingmeans as shown in Fig. I.

A conventional telephone having a dial 4 rotatably mounted so as torotate about an axis through its center, said dial having a conventionalindex card holder 6 provided with an inwardly and downwardly directedlip or flange 8, has mounted over the window Ill of said index holder asmall pad l2, or l2, preferably rectangular in plan. The dimensions ofthe pad 12 are such that it fits snugly in the recess I4 formed byflange 8. The longer axis of pad I2 is preferably normally horizontal.

The pad I2 comprises a backing sheet of cardboard IB, and a plurality ofsheets [8 and 20, the thickness of the sheets in the drawing beingexaggerated for the purpose of better illustration. The sheets l8 and 20may be of equal length, but both sets of sheets are shorter than thecardboard back [6 by a distance i. The sheets [8 of one set are spacedapart by the thickness of a sheet 20. The converse is true of the sheets20. The ends of the sheets 18 are all bound down or padded tightly atthe end A as indicated at 22 by stitching, stapling, or gluing them tothe cardboard back IB. The sheets 20 are similarly bound at the end A ofthe pad.

The binding 22 is preferably placed substantially beyond the free ends17 of the intervening sheets. Means are also preferably provided topermit easy severance of the sheets from the pad, as for example a rowof perforations 24 beyond the ends I) of the intervening sheets.

The sheets are successively numbered, the serial numbering beingprogressive or retrogressive from the top down, as desired.

The sheets may also be provided with numerals representing progressivedays of the month stamped thereon, one or more successive sheets havingthe same date number depending upon the number of calls, and hence,sheets, assigned to the particular date.

The use of the pads is activated by their distribution as advertisingmatter. To this end the advertisers name and telephone number may beinscribed on each of the sheets in the manner shown in Fig. I.

A finishing tape 26 may be provided at each bound end of the pad torender the same neat in appearance.

Referring 'to Fig. III it will be noted that the manner of bindingcauses the bound ends of the sheets to be bent down due to the fact thatthe central portion of the pad is twice the thickness of the bound ends.The bound sheets are therefore placed under a strain and tend tostraighten when released, as shown by the position taken by the topmostsheet 29, the free end of which lies well above the remaining sheets l8and 20 of the pad. This facilitates engagement of this sheet by thehand. Only one sheet can be engaged for it is apparent that the nextlower sheet has its free edge (at the right in Fig. III) tucked underthe topmost sheet. The edges 1) of all sheets below the topmost sheetare protected from mutilation by reason of their lying between theadjacent sheets which are bound together therebeyond.

As soon as the topmost sheet is torn away, the free edge of the nextlower sheet becomes free to spring up, and that sheet then becomes thetopmost sheet in turn.

A dozen or more of the pads remaining mechanically bonded together formanual separation, provides for their handling prior to reaching theconsumer, they being saleable in a quantity adequate for one telephonefor a year.

The individual pads are secured in the recess M of the dial 4 by anysuitable means, as for example by a strip of relatively stiff thoughmanipulatively bendable spring metal 34 of sufficient length to permitboth of its ends engaging under the flanges 8. Each end of the strip maybe arouate as indicated at 36 and a perceptible lip 38 may be providedso that it will engage within the flange as shown.

The metal strip 34 is passed between the backing I6 and the bottommostsheet of the pad in the manner indicated in Fig. II.

Having described my invention and explained its purpose it will beunderstood that variousmodifications thereof may be resorted to withoutdeparting from its spirit. Reference is to be had to the followingclaims for what I claim as my invention.

I claimi 1. In combination, a telephone having a rotatable dial providedwith a card holder carried thereby and rotatable therewith; a padcomprising a number of sheets of individually removable character, abacking for said pad, the sheets be ing of a size only suflicient topermit manual engagement to tear the sheets from the pad, and meansengaging the cardholder and between the backing and the pad sheets tohold the pad on the dial with the removable sheets disposed away fromthe card holder and toward the dial user, alternate sheets of the padhaving a single edge ends of the backing.

fastened to the backing at opposite ends of the v backing.

ERVIN G. JOHNSON.

